“In all seriousness, I never understand why people get so bothered by what other people choose to do with their lives,” Kardashian, 35, wrote. “I don't do drugs, I hardly drink, I've never committed a crime—and yet I'm a bad role model for being proud of my body?”

The reality star received criticism for the photo -- which she censored with black bars according to Instagram’s community guidelines -- from celebs like Piers Morgan, Bette Midler, and Chloe Grace Moretz. But for Kardashian, displaying her body on social media is a show of inner strength.

“I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me,” she wrote. “And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.”

The reality star also opened up about being empowered by husband Kanye West, who reposted one of Kardashian’s nude selfies on Tuesday with the simple hashtag, “#muse.”

In the wake of the backlash, Kardashian received support from starlets like Miley Cyrus, Abigail Breslin, Ariel Winter, and Bella Thorne, who defended the reality star’s right to do what she wants with her body and also called out the double standard for shirtless selfies between male and female celebrities.

“If a guy posts a shirtless picture, people say how ‘steamy’ and ‘hot’ it is,” Breslin pointed out. “But if a woman chooses to do that, it's setting a bad example?”

If a guy posts a shirtless picture, people say how "steamy" and "hot" it is. But if a woman chooses to do that, it's setting a bad example?

In her post, Kardashian also opened up about her desire to be a positive female role model for 2-year-old daughter North West.

“I feel so lucky to have grown up surrounded by strong, driven, independent women,” she wrote. “The life lessons I've learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter. I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her body. I don't want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman.”

Moretz and Midler both responded to Kardashian’s Twitter tirade on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough for the reality star, who spoke out against what she felt was unnecessary and offensive commentary on her social media posts.

“It's 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming—it's like, enough is enough,” Kardashian wrote. “I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.”

“I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy,” she continued, concluding her post with the hashtag, “#happyinternationalwomensday.”